Data-providing apparatus, data-providing method and program-sorting medium

ABSTRACT

In the present invention, image data is edited in response to a demand transmitted from a data-processing apparatus through a network. A moving-picture server ( 3 ) acquires a scenario consisting of a plurality of scenes, each lasting for a given time, is acquired in response to a demand made by a personal computer ( 1 - 1 ). The server acquires from a temporary edition space ( 6 ) a given number of original data items that will be used in the scenario, also in response to a demand made by the data-processing apparatus. The moving-picture server ( 3 ) selects prescribed ones of the original data items acquired and allocate them to the scenes of the scenario acquired. The server corrects the original data items selected, in accordance with the prescribed image data items that have been allocated to the scenes of the scenario. The image data is thereby edited.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation application of U.S.application Ser. No. 11/561,978, filed Nov. 21, 2006, which is adivisional application of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/018,954, filedMar. 29, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,552,388, the entire contents of eachof which are hereby incorporated by reference. U.S. application Ser. No.10/018,954 is a national stage application of PCT Application No.PCT/JP01/03741, filed Apr. 27, 2001, which claims priority to JapaneseApplication No. P2000-126850, filed Apr. 27, 2000.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a data-providing apparatus and adata-providing method, both for editing images, and a program-storingmedium that stores programs to be executed in the data-processingapparatus and the data-processing method.

BACKGROUND ART

Recently, personal computers have acquired various functions. They canedit not only text data, but also image data.

In order to edit images, the user of a personal computer needs to learnthe functions the personal computer can perform. Even if the user haslearned the functions, it takes him or her much time to obtain desiredresults of edition. Further, a great amount of data must be processed toedit image data. That is, much time is required to edit image data.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made in view of the foregoing. An objectof the invention is to provide a data-providing apparatus and adata-providing method, which enable the user to edit images easily andquickly. Another object of the invention is to provide a program-storingmedium that stores programs to be used in the data-providing apparatusand the data-providing method.

To attain the above-mentioned object, a data-providing apparatusaccording to the invention is designed to edit image data in response toa demand transmitted from a data-processing apparatus through a network.The data-providing apparatus comprises: first acquisition means foracquiring a scenario consisting of a plurality of scenes, each lastingfor a given time, in response to a demand made by the data-processingapparatus; second acquisition means for acquiring a given number ofimage data items that will be used in the scenario, in response to ademand made by the data-processing apparatus; means for selectingprescribed ones of the image data items acquired by the secondacquisition means and for allocating the prescribed image data items tothe scenes of the scenario acquired by the first acquisition means; andcorrection means for correcting the image data items selected inaccordance with the prescribed image data items that have been allocatedto the scenes of the scenario.

In the data-providing apparatus according to claim 1, prescribed specialeffects may be allocated to the prescribed ones of the scenes of thescenario, and effect-applying means may be provided for applying thespecial effects to the image data items allocated to the scenes.

The data-providing apparatus may further comprise transmission controlmeans for controlling the transmission of the image data generated byapplying the special effects to the image data items by theeffect-applying means.

The data-providing apparatus may further comprise recording controlmeans for controlling the recording of the image data generated byapplying the special effects to the image data items by theeffect-applying means.

In the data-providing apparatus according to claim 1, the firstacquisition means acquires a scenario selected from a plurality ofscenarios.

In the data-providing apparatus according to claim 5, different piecesof music may be allocated to the plurality of scenarios.

In the data-providing apparatus, the second acquisition means mayacquire the image data items supplied from the data-processingapparatus.

In the data-providing apparatus according to claim 1, the secondacquisition means may acquire the image data items supplied from anotherdata-processing apparatus.

A data-providing method according to this invention is designed for usein a data-providing apparatus for editing image data in response to ademand transmitted from a data-processing apparatus through a network.The data-providing method comprises: a first acquisition step ofacquiring a scenario consisting of a plurality of scenes, each lastingfor a given time, in response to a demand made by the data-processingapparatus; a second acquisition step of acquiring a given number ofimage data items that will be used in the scenario, in response to ademand made by the data-processing apparatus; a step of selectingprescribed ones of the image data items acquired in the secondacquisition step and for allocating the prescribed image data items tothe scenes of the scenario acquired in the first acquisition step; and acorrection step of correcting the image data items selected inaccordance with the prescribed image data items that have been allocatedto the scenes of the scenario.

A program-storing medium according to the present invention stores acomputer-readable program being for use in a data-providing apparatusfor editing image data in response to a demand transmitted from adata-processing apparatus through a network. The program comprises: afirst acquisition step of acquiring a scenario consisting of a pluralityof scenes, each lasting for a given time, in response to a demand madeby the data-processing apparatus; a second acquisition step of acquiringa given number of image data items that will be used in the scenario, inresponse to a demand made by the data-processing apparatus; a step ofselecting prescribed ones of the image data items acquired in the secondacquisition step and for allocating the prescribed image data items tothe scenes of the scenario acquired in the first acquisition step; and acorrection step of correcting the image data items selected inaccordance with the prescribed image data items that have been allocatedto the scenes of the scenario.

A data-providing apparatus, a data-providing method, and aprogram-storing medium for storing of program used these apparatus andmethod according to the present invention, a scenario consisting of aplurality of scenes, each lasting for a given time, is acquired inresponse to a demand made by a data-processing apparatus. A given numberof image data items that will be used in the scenario are acquired, too,in response to a demand made by the data-processing apparatus.Prescribed ones of the image data items acquired are selected andallocated to the scenes of the scenario acquired. The image data itemsselected are corrected in accordance with the prescribed image dataitems that have been allocated to the scenes of the scenario the scenesof the scenario. This enables the user of the apparatus to edit imageseasily and quickly.

The other objects of the invention and the advantages of the inventionwill be obviously understood from the following description ofembodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a moving-picture editing systemaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagram explaining a server used to edit moving pictures;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the data items stored in a user datamanagement database;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the data items stored in a uservideo-data management database;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the data items stored in a shared video-datamanagement database;

FIG. 6 is a diagram depicting a screen image displayed a personalcomputer may display;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an image the personal computer may display;

FIG. 8 is a diagram representing a screen image the personal computermay display;

FIG. 9 is a diagram depicting a screen image the personal computer maydisplay;

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a screen image the personal computer maydisplay;

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a screen image the personal computer maydisplay;

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a screen image the personal computermay display;

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a screen image the personal computer maydisplay;

FIG. 14 is a diagram depicting a screen image the personal computer maydisplay;

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a screen image the personal computermay display;

FIG. 16 is a diagram depicting a screen image the personal computer maydisplay;

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing the objects to be edited;

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a screen image displayed the personalcomputer may display;

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a screen image the personal computer maydisplay;

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing a screen image the personal computer maydisplay;

FIG. 21 is a diagram depicting a screen image the personal computer maydisplay;

FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating a screen image the personal computermay display;

FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating an image the personal computer maydisplay;

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing an image the personal computer may display;

FIG. 25 is a diagram representing an image the personal computer maydisplay;

FIG. 26 is a diagram illustrating an image the personal computer maydisplay;

FIG. 27 is a diagram illustrating an image the personal computer maydisplay;

FIG. 28 is a diagram showing an image the personal computer may display;

FIG. 29 is a diagram depicting an image the personal computer maydisplay;

FIG. 30 is a diagram illustrating a screen image the personal computermay display;

FIG. 31 is a diagram showing a screen image the personal computer 1 maydisplay;

FIG. 32 is a flowchart explaining the process of editing an image;

FIG. 33 is a flowchart explaining a log-in process;

FIG. 34 is a flowchart explaining the process of displaying a thumbnail;

FIG. 35 is a flowchart explaining an up-load process;

FIG. 36 is a flowchart explaining the process of setting attributes;

FIG. 37 is a flowchart explaining the process of loading the originaldata the user possesses;

FIG. 38 is flowchart explaining another process of loading the originaldata the user possesses;

FIG. 39 is a flowchart explaining the process of loading the originaldata that users can share;

FIG. 40 is a flowchart explaining the process of automatically editingdata;

FIGS. 41 to 43 are a flowchart explaining the shaker process;

FIGS. 44A and 44B are diagrams representing a scenario;

FIGS. 45A to 45D are diagrams for explaining a scene;

FIG. 46 is a schematic representation of the shaker process;

FIG. 47 is a flowchart explaining the process of confirming an movingpicture; and

FIG. 48 is a flowchart explaining the process of saving moving picturedata.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

An data-providing apparatus and a data-providing method, both accordingto this invention, are configured for use in such a moving-pictureediting system as illustrated in FIG. 1. In the moving-picture editingsystem, a personal computer 1-1 executes a browser program 11-1,demanding a log-in into a moving-picture editing server 3 through theInternet 2. Thereafter, the personal computer 1-1 displays a screenimage that is used to edit the data stored in a user video-datamanagement database 4, in accordance with the data supplied from themoving-picture editing server 3. The data (hereinafter referred to as“original data”) to be edited includes a moving picture, a stillpicture, sound or the like.

The personal computer 1-1 transmits the data it stores, such as a movingpicture, a still picture or sound, to the moving-picture editing server3 through the Internet. The moving-picture editing server 3 records theoriginal data it has received, i.e., the moving picture, still pictureor sound, into the user video-data management database 4. In thedatabase 4, the original data is recorded in an area allocated to theuser of the database 4, in association with the user ID of the user ofthe personal computer 1-1.

Of the original data items recorded in the user video-data managementdatabase 4, any one selected may be used also in, for example, anotherpersonal computer 1-2. (Hereinafter, the data item selected will bereferred to as “shared data item”.) To this end, the personal computer1-1 causes the server 3 to impart an attribute to the shared data item.

Each original data item recorded in the user video-data managementdatabase 4 has other attributes. One attribute describes whether anyother user can utilize the data item (that is, whether the data item isshared or not). Another attribute describes whether any other user needsto pay for the data item. Another attributes are the title name andgenre of the data item.

To use a shared original data item, the personal computer 1-1 displays ascreen image based on the data supplied from the moving-picture editingserver 3. The screen image is used to edit the shared original data itemthat is recorded in the user video-data management database 4.

The personal computer 1-1 causes the moving-picture editing server 3 toedit the original data recorded in the user video-data managementdatabase 4 in association with the user ID or the shared original data.Then, the personal computer 1-1 causes the user video-data managementdatabase 4 to record the moving-picture data generated by editing theoriginal data or the shared original data.

The personal computer 1-2 executes a browser program 11-2 and demands alog-in into the moving-picture editing server 3 through the Internet 2.After the log-in into the server 3 is accomplished, thepersonal-computer 1-2 displays a screen image based on the data suppliedfrom the moving-picture editing server 3. The screen image is used toedit the original data the user video-data management database 4records.

The personal computer 1-2 transmits the data recorded in it, i.e., themoving picture, still picture or sound, to the moving-picture editingserver 3 through the Internet 2. The moving-picture editing server 3stores the original data it has received, i.e., the moving picture,still picture or sound, into the user video-data management database 4.In the database 4, the original data is recorded in an area allocated tothe user of the database 4, in association with the user ID of the userof the personal computer 1-2.

Of the original data items recorded in the user video-data managementdatabase 4, any one selected may be used also in, for example, thepersonal computer 1-1. To this end, the personal computer 1-2 causes theserver 3 to impart an attribute to the shared data item.

Each original data item recorded in the user video-data managementdatabase 4 has other attributes. One attribute describes whether anyother user can utilize the data item (that is, whether the data item isshared or not). Another attribute describes whether any other user needto pay for the data item. Another attributes are the title name andgenre of the data item.

To use a shared original data item, the personal computer 1-2 displays ascreen image based on the data supplied from the moving-picture editingserver 3. The screen image is used to edit the shared original data itemthat is recorded in the user video-data management database 4.

The personal computer 1-2 causes the moving-picture editing server 3 toedit the original data recorded in the user video-data managementdatabase 4 in association with the user ID or the shared original data.Then, the personal computer 1-2 causes the user video-data managementdatabase 4 to record the moving-picture data generated by editing theoriginal data or the shared original data.

The moving-picture editing server 3 executes a moving-picture editingprogram 12. When the personal computer 1-1 demands a log-in via theInternet 2, the moving-picture editing server 3 determines whether alog-in should be allowed, from the data about the user of the personalcomputer 1-1. Note that the data about the computer user is recorded ina user data management database 7.

The moving-picture editing server 3 receives a log-in demand transmittedvia the Internet 2 from the personal computer 1-2. Then, themoving-picture editing server 3 determines whether the log-in thusdemanded should be allowed, from the data about the user of the personalcomputer 1-2, which is recorded in the user data management database 7.

The moving-picture editing server 3 receives the data representing amoving picture, a still picture or sound, from the personal computer 1-1or 1-2 via the Internet 2. The moving-picture editing server 3 causesthe user video-data management database 4 to record the data received(i.e., the moving picture, still picture or sound). The data is recordedas original data that is associated with the user ID.

When the moving-picture editing server 3 receives an edition demand fromthe personal computer 1-1 through the Internet 2, it provides a memoryspace for edition, in a temporary edition space 6. The memory space thusprovided will be used to edit data for the personal computer 1-1.Similarly, when the moving-picture editing server 3 receives an editiondemand from the personal computer 1-2 through the Internet 2, itprovides a memory space for edition, in a temporary edition space 6,which will be used to edit data for the personal computer 1-2.

In response to a demand made by the personal computer 1-1, themoving-picture editing server 3 reads the original data from the uservideo-data management database 4. The server 3 then loads the data intothe memory space provided (for the personal computer 1-1) in thetemporary edition space 6. (In other words, the moving-picture editingserver 3 records the data in such a condition that the data may beedited.) The original data loaded in the memory space includes not onlythe data possessed by the user of the personal computer 1-1, but alsothe data (i.e., shared data) that the user of the personal computer 1-2allows the user of the personal computer 1-1 to use.

The moving-picture editing server 3 edits the original data loaded inthe memory space provided in the temporary edition space 6, generatingmoving-picture data. The server 3 has data-processing ability highenough to edit the original data representing a moving picture or thelike. It edits the data at high speed, said data includingspecial-effect data items the personal computer 1-1 cannot edit.

The moving-picture editing server 3 records the moving-picture data,thus edited, into the memory space provided for the personal computer1-1, in the temporary edition space 6.

In response to the demand made by the personal computer 1-1, themoving-picture editing server 3 transmits the moving-picture data it hasedited, to the personal computer 1-1, which displays the moving picture.Further, in response to the demand made by the personal computer 1-1,the server 3 records the moving-picture data, i.e., original data, inthe user video-data management database 4. More specifically, the server3 records the data in the area allocated to the user of the database 4,in association with the user ID of the user of the personal computer1-1.

In response to the demand made by the personal computer 1-2, themoving-picture editing server 3 reads the original data from the uservideo-data management database 4. The server 3 then loads the originaldata into the memory space provided (for the personal computer 1-2) inthe temporary edition space 6. (That is, the data is recorded in such acondition that it may be edited by the moving-picture editing server 3.)

The original data loaded in the memory space includes not only the datapossessed by the user of the personal computer 1-2, but also the data(i.e., shared data) that the user of the personal computer 1-1 allowsthe user of the personal computer 1-2 to use.

The moving-picture editing server 3 edits the original data loaded inthe memory space provided in the temporary edition space 6, generatingmoving-picture data. The server 3 records the moving-picture dataobtained by the edition, into the memory space provided for the personalcomputer 1-2 in the temporary edition space 6.

In response to a demand made by the personal computer 1-2, themoving-picture editing server 3 transmits the moving-picture data, thusedited, to the personal computer 1-2, which displays the moving picture.Further, the server 3 records the moving-picture data, or original data,it has received, into the user video-data management database 4, inresponse to a demand made by the personal computer 1-2. In the database4, the data is recorded in an area allocated to the user of the database4, in association with the user ID of the user of the personal computer1-2.

When the attribute of the original data is transmitted from the personalcomputer 1-1 or 1-2 to the moving-picture editing server 3, the server 3updates the attribute of the original data recorded in the uservideo-data management database 4. When an attribute is set in theoriginal data, indicating that the original data is shared data, themoving-picture editing server 3 records data about the original data,into a shared video-data management database 5.

The user video-data management database 4 comprises a memory space and adatabase engine. The memory space is, for example, the hard discincorporated in the moving-picture editing server 3. The database engineis executed by the moving-picture editing server 3. The database 4 isdivided into areas of a prescribed size, each allocated to one user.Each area is provided to record original data, the user ID of the userwho possesses the original data, the data ID identifying the originaldata, and the like.

The shared video-data management database 5 comprises a memory spacesuch as the hard disc provided in the moving-picture editing server 3,and a database engine executed by the moving-picture editing server 3.The database 5 records the data ID of the shared original data, the IDsof the users who share the shared original data, and the like. In otherwords, the shared video-data management database 5 records the dataidentifying the original data and the data concerning the same; it doesnot record the original data per se.

The temporary edition space 6 comprises a memory space such as the harddisc provided in the moving-picture editing server 3, and a memory spacesuch as a main memory provided in the moving-picture editing server 3.The space 6 records the original data to be edited and themoving-picture data obtained by editing the original data. In the memoryspace of the temporary edition space 6, an area of a specific size isprovided for the personal computer 1-1 or 1-2 that has demanded that themoving-picture editing server 3 should edit the original data. Moreprecisely, such an area is prepared so that the original data may beloaded into the moving-picture editing server 3 (or, may be temporarilystored therein) and may then be edited. The original data loaded in thememory space (temporarily stored to edit) and the memory space will beeliminated in the temporary edition space 6 when the moving-pictureediting server 3 finishes editing the original data.

The moving-picture editing server 3 controls the temporary edition space6. Neither the personal computer 1-1 nor the personal computer 1-2 canmake a direct access to the temporary edition space 6.

The user data management database 7 comprises a memory space such as thehard disc provided in the moving-picture editing server 3, and adatabase engine executed by the moving-picture editing server 3. Thedatabase 7 records the user IDs identifying the users of the personalcomputer 1-1 and 1-2, the passwords of these users, and the like.

In the description that follows, the personal computers 1-1 and 1-2 willbe generally referred to as “personal computer 1” unless they need to bedistinguished from each other. Similarly, browser programs 11-1 and 11-2will be generally called “browser program 11” unless they need to bedistinguished form each other.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the moving-picture editing server 3. Inthe server 3, the CPU (Central Processing Unit) 31 executes variousapplication programs and the OS (Operating System). The applicationprograms include a database engine and the above-mentionedmoving-picture editing program 12.

The ROM (Read-Only Memory) 32 stores the fixed parts of the programs andarithmetic parameters that the CPU 31 utilizes. The RAM (Random-AccessMemory) 33 is provided to store the programs that the CPU 31 uses toperform its function and the parameters that change while the CPU 31 isoperating. These components are connected to one another by a host bus34, which is a CPU bus or the like.

The host bus 34 is connected by a bridge 35 to an external bus 36. Thebus 36 is, for example, a PCI (Peripheral ComponentInterconnect/Interface) bus.

The user operates the keyboard 38 to input various commands to the CPU31. The user operates the pointing device 39 to move the pointer on thescreen of the display 40 and select a menu item. The display 40 is aliquid crystal display, a CRT (Cathode-Ray Tube) or the like. Thedisplay 40 is provided to display various data items in the form of textdata or images. The HDD (Hard Disc Drive) 41 drives hard discs to recordon the hard discs the programs the CPU 31 executes and the data the CPU31 processes, and to reproduces the programs and the data from the harddiscs.

The drive 42 reads data and programs from a magnetic disc 61, an opticaldisc 62, a magneto-optical disc 63 and a semiconductor memory 64. Thedata and programs, thus read, are supplied to the RAM 33 through theinterface 37, the external bus 36, bridge 35 and host bus 34.

The components, ranging from the keyboard 38 to the drive 42, areconnected to the interface 37. The interface 37 is connected to the CPU31 by the external bus 36, bridge 35 and host bus 34.

The communication section 43 is connected to the Internet 2. The section43 stores the data supplied from the CPU 31 or the HDD 41, in the formof packets of a particular format. (The data causes the browser program11-1 or 11-2 to display, for example, a screen image showing an editionmenu.) The communication section 43 may transmit the packets through theInternet 2. The section 43 receives packets through the Internet 2 andoutputs the data (e.g., a moving picture, a still picture, sound or thelike) contained in the packets, to the CPU 31, RAM 33 or the HDD 41.

The communication section 43 is connected to the CPU 31 by the externalbus 36, bridge 35 and host bus 34.

The personal computers 1-1 and 1-2 have a structure similar to that ofthe moving-picture editing server 3. Therefore, their structure will notbe described.

FIG. 3 is a diagram that shows the data items stored in the user datamanagement database 7, i.e., the user IDs identifying the users of thepersonal computers 1-1 and 1-2, the passwords of these users, and thelike. The user data management database 7 records the users' passwords,the directory data items representing the user areas in the database 4,the service charges to be paid by the users and the like, in associationwith the user IDs. (The service fees are, for example, the amounts thatthe users need to pay for the service they have received for a specificperiod of time.)

As can be understood from FIG. 3, the user data management database 7records various data items. More precisely, the database 7 records thepassword “

” of a user whose user ID is aaaaa, directory data “user¥aaaaa”representing the user area of the user, and the service charge of 2,000yen the user should pay. (The password is actually a train of characterssuch as alphabet letters, numerals or special characters.) The user areais provided in the user video-data management database 4.

As seen from FIG. 3, too, the user data management database 7 recordsthe password “

” of a user whose user ID is bbbbb, directory data “user¥bbbbb”representing this user area of the user, which is provided in the uservideo-data management database 4, and the service charge of 1,800 yenthis user needs to pay.

Similarly, the user data management database 7 records the password “

” of a user whose user ID is ccccc, directory data “user¥ccccc”representing this user area of the user, which is provided in the uservideo-data management database 4, and the service charge of 3,500 yenthe user should pay.

The user IDs, passwords and directory data are recorded in the user datamanagement database 7 by the manager responsible for the moving-pictureediting server 3, before the user of the personal computer 1 startsusing the moving-picture editing system.

FIG. 4 is a diagram that shows the data, i. e., the data ID and the userID that identify the original data recorded in the user video-datamanagement database 4.

The user video-data management database 4 records a file containingoriginal data representing a moving picture, a still picture and sound.The database 4 records various data items, too, in association with thedata ID that identifying the original data. Among the various data itemsare: the user ID identifying the user who owns the original data; thedirectory of the file containing the original data; the name of thefile; the title of the original data; the category of the original data;the introductory comment on the original data; the shared-data flagpermitting or prohibiting the use of the original data; a charge flagindicating whether the user must pay for the original data; and theamount the user should pay for the original data that is not free ofcharge.

FIG. 4 illustrates the data items that may be recorded in the uservideo-data management database 4. In the case shown in FIG. 4, thedatabase 4 records the user ID “aaaaa” of the user who owns the originaldata having data ID “xxxxx,” and the directory data “user¥aaaaa¥movie1”representing the directory at which the file containing the originaldata having data ID “xxxxx”. Further, the database 4 records the name“golf.mov” of the file containing the original data having data ID“xxxxx”, the tile “golf” of the original data having data ID “xxxxx”,the category “sports” of the original data having data ID “xxxxx”, theintroductory comment “

” on the original data having data ID “xxxxx”, and the shared-data flag“0” that prohibits any other user from utilizing the original data. (Inpractice, the introductory comment is a train of characters such asHiragana, Katakana, Chinese characters, alphabet letters, numerals orspecial characters.)

The user video-data management database 4 records the user ID “aaaaa” ofthe user who owns the original data having data ID “yyyyy,” and thedirectory data “user¥aaaaa¥movie1” representing the directory at whichthe file containing the original data having data ID “yyyyy”. Further,the database 4 records the name “fish.mov” of the file containing theoriginal data having data ID “yyyyy”, the tile “fishing” of the originaldata having data ID “yyyyy”, the category “sports” of the original datahaving data ID “yyyyy”, the introductory comment “

”on the original data having data ID “yyyyy”, the shared-data flag “1”that allows any other user from utilizing the original data, and thecharge flag “0” indicating the any other user can use the original datafor free.

Further, the user video-data management database 4 records the user ID“aaaaa” of the user who owns the original data having data ID “zzzzz,”and the directory data “user¥aaaaa¥movie2” representing the directory atwhich the file containing the original data having data ID “zzzzz”. Thedatabase 4 records the name “travel.mov” of the file containing theoriginal data having data ID “zzzzz”, the tile “travel” of the originaldata having data ID “zzzzz”, the category “travel” of the original data,the introductory comment “

”on the original data having data ID “zzzzz”, the shared-data flag “1”that allows any other user from utilizing the original data, and thecharge flag “1” indicating the any other user can use the original datafor 200 yen.

If any other user edit the original data available for 200 yen, anamount of 200 yen is added to the service charge that this other usershould pay. At the same time, the same amount is reduced from theservice charge that the user who owns the original data should pay. Notethat the service charge any user must pay may be reduced to zero and isnot be less than zero.

Nonetheless, the service charge a user must pay may be less than zero. Auser may own original data that is an advertisement moving picture andagrees to pay a particular amount of money to any other user who usesthis moving picture. In this case, when any other user uses the movingpicture, the service charge he or she should pay decreases by thatamount, while the service charge the user owning this moving pictureshould pay increases. In other words, the user who owns theadvertisement moving picture pays money to any other user who uses theadvertisement moving picture.

If any user uses original data all users share, a prescribed number ofpoints may be added or subtracted from the account of the user and theaccount of any other user. In this case, the manager responsible for themoving-picture editing server 3 accepts, at the web server, the demandmade by the user of the personal computer 1, so that the user mayexchange his or her points for any service or any merchandise he or shewants.

Moreover, the user video-data management database 4 record the creditnumber of any user, in association with the user ID of the user, forcollect fees from the user.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the data items stored in the sharedvideo-data management database 5, such as user IDs and data IDs, whichidentify the users of the personal computers 1-1 and 1-2. To be morespecific, the shared video-data management database 5 records data IDs,each identifying original data having a shared-data flag set at “1”(i.e., shared original data), user IDs, each identifying the owner ofthe original data, and a charge flag indicating whether any other usermust pay for the original data.

As seen from FIG. 5, the shared video-data management database 5 recordsthe user ID “aaaaa” of the user who owns the original data having dataID “yyyyy” and the charge flag “0” indicating that any other user canuse the original data for free.

The shared video-data management database 5 records the user ID “aaaaa”of the user who owns the original data having data ID “zzzzzz” and thecharge flag “1” indicating that any other user can use the original datafor a particular amount of money.

The shared video-data management database 5 records the user ID “ccccc”of the user who owns the original data having data ID “hhhhh” and thecharge flag “1” indicating any other user can use the original data fora particular amount of money.

The screen image that the personal computer 1 displays when it causesthe moving-picture editing server 3 to edit original data such as amoving picture, a still picture or sound.

FIG. 6 is a diagram depicting the screen image that the browser program11 causes the personal computer 1 to display when the computer 1 it isconnected to the moving-picture editing server 3 via the Internet 2.

The initial screen image, i.e., the first image displayed, includes twofields 101 and 102 and a button 103. A user ID shall be input in thefield 101, and a password in the field 102. The button 103 shall beclicked to transmit a log-in demand to the moving-picture editing server3. As FIG. 6 illustrates, the user ID “ano” is input in the field 101,identifying the user of the personal computer 1. The password “

” is input in the field 102, identifying the user of the personalcomputer 1. (The password is actually a train of characters such asalphabet letters, numerals or special characters.)

When the button 103 is clicked after the user ID and the password havebeen input in the fields 101 and 102, the browser program 11 transmits alog-in demand to the moving-picture editing server 3 through theInternet 2, together with the user ID and password that have been input.

Upon receipt of the log-in demand, the moving-picture editing server 3determines whether the user ID and the password, both input, areregistered in the user data management database 7. If neither the userID nor the password is not registered in the database 7, themoving-picture editing server 3 transmits data to the personal computer1 via the Internet 2, said data causing the computer 1 to display amessage informing that no log-in is possible. Then, the server 3 willnot edit any data representing a moving picture.

If the user ID and the password the moving-picture editing server 3 hasreceived are registered in the database 7, the server 3 reads theoriginal data associated with the user ID, from the user video-datamanagement database 4. Next, the moving-picture editing server 3generates a thumbnail. (If the original data represents a movingpicture, the server 3 generates the thumbnail from, for example, theinitial screen image. The thumbnail is generated in accordance with theformat of the data. If the data is of JPEG (Joint Photographic ExpertsGroup) format, the thumbnail data is extracted from the header of thefile.) The server 3 transmits the screen-image data for displaying thethumbnail, to the personal computer 1.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the user-video, thumbnail screen image thatthe browser program 11 causes the personal computer 1 to display whenthe computer 1 receives data representing a screen image showingthumbnails that correspond to the original data items owned by the userof the personal computer 1.

The user-video, thumbnail screen image includes one field 111 and threebuttons 112 to 114. Thumbnails will be displayed in the field 111. Thebutton 112 is clicked to transmit data, such as a moving picture, astill picture or sound, to the moving-picture editing server 3. Thebutton 113 is clicked to edit the attribute of the original datarecorded in the user video-data management database 4. The button 114 isclicked to cause the moving-picture editing server 3 to edit a movingpicture.

Arranged in the field 111 are thumbnail-displaying fields 121-1 to121-9. In each thumbnail-displaying field, the thumbnail correspondingto an original data item and the icon representing the attribute of thedata item shall be displayed.

The browser program 11 is executed to display various thumbnails andicons associated with the thumbnails, respectively. As shown in FIG. 7,the thumbnail of an original data item and an icon representing a cameraare displayed in the thumbnail-displaying field 121-1. The iconindicates that the thumbnail corresponds to an original data item thatrepresents a still picture.

The thumbnail of another data item and three icons are displayed in thethumbnail-displaying field 121-2 by executing the browser program 11.The first icon is an image of a video camera, indicating that thethumbnail corresponds to an original data item that represents a movingpicture. The second icon is a playback mark, informing that the movingpicture can be played back or reproduced. The third icon is a playbackstop mark, indicating that the playback of the moving picture may bestopped.

Similarly, the thumbnail of a data item and an icon or icons associatedwith the thumbnail are displayed in each of the otherthumbnail-displaying field 121-3 to 121-9 by executing the browserprogram 11.

When the button 112 is clicked to transmit data representing a movingpicture, a still picture or sound, to the moving-picture editing server3, the browser program 11 is executed to display the dialog boxillustrated in FIG. 8. As shown in FIG. 8, the dialog box has a field131 and a button 132. The name of the file containing the data totransmit shall be input in the field 131. The bottom 132 is clicked tostart transmitting the data.

As shown in FIG. 8, the file name “golf.mov” is input in the field 131.When the button 132 is clicked, the browser program 11 is executed,whereby the data stored in the file having the name “golf.mov” istransmitted to the moving-picture editing server 3 through the Internet2, in accordance with, for example, HTTP (Hyper Test Transfer Protocol).

The moving-picture editing server 3 records the data received from thepersonal computer 1 via the Internet 2, in the user video-datamanagement database 4. The data recorded in the database 4 will be usedas original data that is owned by the user of the personal computer 1.

Any one of the thumbnail-displaying fields 121-1 to 121-9 (FIG. 7) maybe selected and the button 113 (FIG. 7) may then be clicked to edit theattribute of the original data recorded in the user video-datamanagement database 4. If this is the case, the browser program 11 isexecuted, displaying a dialog box that will be used to edit theattribute of the original data corresponding to the thumbnail-displayingfield selected.

FIG. 9 is a diagram depicting the dialog box that will be used to editthe attribute of the original data corresponding to the thumbnail. AsFIG. 9 shows, this dialog box has four fields 141 to 144 and two buttons145-1 and 145-2. The thumbnail of original data shall be displayed inthe first field 141. The title of the original data shall be input inthe second field 142. The category of the original data shall be inputin the third field 143. The introductory comment on the original datashall be input in the fourth field 144. The button 145-1 is clicked todesignate the original data as one that user can share with any otheruser. The button 145-2 is clicked to designate the original data as onethat the users cannot share. (Only one of the buttons 145-1 and 145-2can be clicked at a time.)

The dialog box shown in FIG. 9 has other buttons 146-1, 146-2 and 148and another field 147. The button 146-1 is clicked to designate theshared original data as one for which any user should pay. The button146-2 is clicked to designate the shared original data that can be usedfree. (Only one of the buttons 146-1 and 146-2 can be clicked at atime.) If the fee for the shared original data shall be input in thefield 147. The button 148 is clicked to start transmitting the attributeof the original data.

As shown in FIG. 9, “travel” is input in the field 142, as the title ofthe original data. “Travel” is input in the field 143, too, as thecategory of the original data. “Autumn excursion” is input in the field144, as the introductory comment on the original data. In the dialog boxof FIG. 9, the button 145-1 is clicked, designating the original data asshared data, the button 146-1 is clicked, designating the sharedoriginal data as one for which any user should pay. The fee of 200 yenis input in the field 147.

The button 148 may be clicked in the condition illustrated in FIG. 9. Inthis case, the browser program 11 outputs the attribute that correspondsto the data items input in the fields 142 to 147. This attribute istransmitted from the personal computer 1 through the Internet 2 to themoving-picture editing server 3.

The moving-picture editing server 3 stores the same into the uservideo-data management database 4. In the database 4, the attribute isrecorded in association with the data ID of the original data, as hasbeen described with reference to FIG. 4.

Upon receipt of the attribute indicating the original data can share,the moving-picture editing server 3 outputs the data ID identifying theoriginal data, the user ID identifying the user who owns the originaldata, and the charge flag indicating whether any other user should payfor the original data. The data items the server 3 has output are storedinto the shared video-data management database 5.

When the button 114 (FIG. 7) is clicked to cause the moving-pictureediting server 3 to edit the moving picture, the browser program 11 isexecuted to display such an edition screen image as is illustrated inFIG. 10. The edition screen image includes a read-in button 151. Theread-in button 151 is clicked to start loading the original data intothe moving-picture editing server 3 from the user video-data managementdatabase 4.

When the read-in button 151 is clicked, the browser program 11 transmitsdata to the server 3 via the Internet 2, demanding that the originaldata be loaded into the personal computer 1. Upon receiving this datafrom the computer 1, the moving-picture editing server 3 reads theoriginal data from the user video-data management database 4. The server3 generates a thumbnail that corresponds to the data thus read, e.g., amoving picture, a still picture or sound. The server 3 then transmit thedata for displaying the thumbnail, to the personal computer 1 throughthe Internet 2.

The personal computer 1 receives the data for displaying the thumbnailand displays the screen image shown in FIG. 11, which is used to selecta data item that should be edited.

As shown in FIG. 11, this screen image includes thumbnail-displayingfields 161-1 to 161-9 and three buttons 162 to 164. Each of the fields161-1 to 161-9 is provided to display a thumbnail corresponding to anoriginal data item and at least one icon representing the attribute ofthe data item. The button 162 is clicked to load any original data itemselected, into a working area available in the temporary edition space6. The button 163 is clicked to load all original data items the user ofthe computer 1 owns, into a working area of the temporary edition space6. The button 164 is clicked to start displaying the thumbnail of anyshared data item.

The thumbnail-displaying fields 161-3, 161-5 and 161-7 may be selectedand the button 162 may then be clicked. If so, the browser program 11transmits a demand to the moving-picture editing server 3 through theInternet 2, thus demanding that the server 3 should load the originaldata items corresponding to the thumbnail-displaying fields 161-3, 161-5and 161-7, into the personal computer 1.

When the moving-picture editing server 3 receives this demand, itsecures a memory area in the temporary edition space 6 for use inediting the original data items. Then, the server 3 reads the originaldata items corresponding to the thumbnail-displaying fields 161-3, 161-5and 161-7, from the user video-data management database 4. The dataitems thus read are loaded into the memory area now provided in thetemporary edition space 6. (That is, the moving-picture editing server 3records the data items such that they can be edited.)

When the original data items corresponding to the thumbnail-displayingfields 161-3, 161-5 and 161-7 are loaded from the user video-datamanagement database 4 into the memory area provided in the temporaryedition space 6, the moving-picture editing server 3 transmits the datato the personal computer 1 via the Internet 2. This data shows that theoriginal data items corresponding to the thumbnail-displaying fields161-3, 161-5 and 161-7 have been loaded into the memory area.

Upon receipt of the data showing that the original data itemscorresponding to the thumbnail-displaying fields 161-3, 161-5 and 161-7have been loaded into the memory area, the personal computer 1 displaysthe thumbnails of the original data items in the fields selected on theedition screen.

When the button 163 is clicked, the browser program 11 transmits ademand to the moving-picture editing server 3 via the Internet 2, thusdemanding that the server 3 should load all original data the user ofthe computer 1 possesses.

When the moving-picture editing server 3 receives this demand from thepersonal computer 1, it secures a memory area in the temporary editionspace 6 for use in editing the original data. Then, the server 3 readsall original data the user of the computer owns, from the uservideo-data management database 4. The original data thus read is loadedinto the memory area now provided in the temporary edition space 6.

When all original data the user owns is loaded from the user video-datamanagement database 4 into the memory area provided in the temporaryedition space 6, the moving-picture editing server 3 transmits the datato the personal computer 1 via the Internet 2. This data informs thecomputer 1 that the original data has been loaded into the memory area.

Upon receipt of the data showing that the original data has been loadedinto the memory area, the personal computer 1 displays the thumbnails ofthe data items loaded into the memory area, in the fields selected onthe edition screen.

When the button 164 is clicked, the browser program 11 transmits ademand to the moving-picture editing server 3 via the Internet 2, thusdemanding that the server 3 should provide the thumbnails of any sharedoriginal data.

When the moving-picture editing server 3 receives this demand from thepersonal computer 1, it reads the data ID of the shared original datafrom the shared video-data management database 5.

The moving-picture editing server 3 then secures a memory area in thetemporary edition space 6 for use in editing the original data. Further,the server 3 reads the original data identified by the data ID read fromthe database 5, from the user video-data management database 4. Themoving-picture editing server 3 generates the thumbnail of the originaldata read from the database 4. The server 3 then transmits data to thepersonal computer 1, to make the computer 1 display the thumbnail.

FIG. 13 shows a screen image that the personal computer 1 displays inaccordance with the browser program 11 when the computer 1 receives thedata from the server 3, in order to display the thumbnail of the sharedoriginal data the computer 1 can use. The screen image for displayingthe thumbnail of the shared original data includes thumbnail-displayingfields 171-1 to 171-9 and a button 172.

The thumbnail-displaying fields 171-1 to 171-9 are provided, each fordisplaying the thumbnail of a shared original data item and at least oneicon representing the attribute of the shared original data item. Thebutton 172 is clicked to load any original data item selected, into themoving-picture editing server 3.

The thumbnail-displaying fields 171-1, 171-4 and 171-6 may be selectedand the button 172 may then be clicked. In this case, the browserprogram 11 transmits a demand to the moving-picture editing server 3through the Internet 2, thus demanding that the server 3 should load theoriginal data items corresponding to the thumbnail-displaying fields171-1, 171-4 and 171-6, into the personal computer 1.

When the moving-picture editing server 3 receives this demand, itsecures a memory area in the temporary edition space 6 for use inediting the original data items corresponding to thethumbnail-displaying fields 171-1, 171-4 and 171-6.

Then, the server 3 reads these original data items from the uservideo-data management database 4. The original data items thus read areloaded into the memory area now provided in the temporary edition space6.

When the original data items corresponding to the thumbnail-displayingfields 171-1, 171-4 and 171-6 are loaded from the user video-datamanagement database 4 into the memory area provided in the temporaryedition space 6, the moving-picture editing server 3 transmits the datato the personal computer 1 via the Internet 2. This data shows that theoriginal data items corresponding to the thumbnail-displaying fields171-1, 171-4 and 171-6 have been loaded into the memory area.

Upon receipt of the data showing that the original data itemscorresponding to the thumbnail-displaying fields 171-1, 171-4 and 171-6have been loaded into the memory area, the personal computer 1 displaysthe thumbnails of the original data items in the prescribed fields onthe edition screen.

As shown in FIG. 14, the edition screen includes a window in which thetext data is input to be edited. (In the case shown in FIG. 14, the textdata is “Personal Casting.” The window will be described later indetail, with reference to FIG. 28.)

The edition screen will be described in detail.

FIG. 15 illustrates a part of an edition screen. As shown in FIG. 15, anoriginal tray 201 is displayed in the upper-left corner of the editionscreen. In the original tray 201 there is displayed the read-in button151 described with reference to FIG. 10. FIG. 16 is a magnified view ofthe original tray 201.

The original data loaded into the memory area provided in the temporaryedition space 6, which is a moving picture, a still picture or sound tobe edited, is displayed as original clips 211 in the original tray 201.As seen from the magnified view of FIG. 16, the title, type (moving orstill picture) and playback time of the original data are displayed onthe right of the original clips 211. A scroll bar 212 is displayed, too.The user of the computer 1 operates the scroll bar to scroll theoriginal clips 211 if there are too many clips to be displayed in theoriginal tray 201.

A file of the data to be edited (i.e., the original data loaded into thetemporary edition space 6, hereinafter referred to as “original clips”)may be a moving picture file that has an extension identifier such as.MOV or .AVI, a still picture file that has an extension identifier suchas .BMP, .GIF, .JPG, .PNG or .PCT, or a music file that has an extensionidentifier such as .WAV or .AIF.

A playback screen 221 is displayed on the right of the original tray201. Assume that the user operates the pointing device (not shown),designating one of the original clips 211 displayed in the original tray201, and clicks the playback button 231. Then, the image designated isdisplayed on the playback screen 221. As the playback proceeds, theplayback position button 235 moves from the left to the right,indicating which part of the data is played back.

As FIG. 18 shows, too, the pointer 234L and the pointer 234R are movedto desired positions, thus setting a playback-start position and aplayback-end position. The moving picture can thereby be trimmed,designating a desired part of the moving picture. Only that part of themoving picture which has been designated will be actually edited.

When the playback button 232 is clicked to playback the designated partof the moving picture, the designated part of the moving picture isdisplayed in the on the playback screen 221. When the rewinding button236 is clicked, the frames of the moving picture are sequentiallydisplayed on the playback screen 221, in the order reverse to the orderthey have been recorded. When the fast-winding button 237 is clicked,the frames of the moving picture are played back fast, in the order theyhave been recorded.

The user may click the mode button 233 in the story playback mode. Ifso, the mode is switched to the edition mode. When the mode button 233is clicked in the edition mode, the mode is switched back to the storyplayback mode.

The user may click the playback button 231 in the edition mode. If thisis the case, the original clip 211 selected from the original tray 201is displayed on the playback screen 221. If the playback button 231 isclicked in the story playback mode, the story (scenario) automaticallyor manually edited and specified in the output tray 291 will be playedback, from the beginning to the end. (The story corresponds to the datathat is recorded in the temporary edition space 6.)

To edit an original clip manually (not automatically), the user selectsthe original clip from among the original clips 211 displayed in theoriginal tray 201. Then, the user drags the original clip and drops itat a desired position in the image-displaying section 301A of the imagetrack 301 shown in FIG. 19, thereby preparing a scenario (story). Theimage (i.e., the original clip) dropped in the image-displaying section301A may be further dragged and dropped at another position in thesection 301A.

The output button 304 is clicked to save the moving picturecorresponding to the story manually edited, in the user video-datamanagement database 4.

If a file of music data exists on the original tray 201, the user maydrags the icon of this file (i.e., the original clip 211) and drops itin the BGM track 302 on the output tray 291. The music data file canthen be used as background music (BGM). That part of the BGM track 302,to which the music data is assigned, has a length proportional to theamount of the music data. The amount of the music data may be smallerthan the maximum amount of music data that can be recorded in the BGMtrack 302. In this case, the user can drag other music data and drops itin the BGM track 302, to assign the other music data to another part ofthe BGM track 302.

On the right of the playback screen 221 there are displayed a volumebutton 241, a color-adjusting button 242, and a playback speed button243. When the volume button 241 is clicked, such a window 331 as isshown in FIG. 20 is displayed below the volume button 241. The user maymove the tap along the adjustment bar 332 to adjust the volume of soundto be output.

When the color-adjusting button 242 is clicked, such a window 341 as isshown in FIG. 21 is displayed below the color-adjusting button 242. Theuser may move the tap along the adjustment bar 342 to select any one ofcolors, i.e., X ray, high contrast, present color, sepia and monochrome.

When the playback speed button 243 is clicked, such a window 351 as isshown in FIG. 22 is displayed below the playback speed button 243. Theuser may move the tap along the adjustment bar 352 to increase ordecrease the playback speed to a desired one.

An effect button 244 is displayed below the playback speed button 243.The user may drag and drop one of selection button icons 364 or aselection button icon 362 at the effect button 244, to assign the effectto the original image displayed in the playback screen 221. The icons364 and 362, which are shown in FIGS. 23 and 24, will be describedlater.

A special effect tray 261 is displayed on the right of the buttons,including the volume button 241 and the effect button 244. Tags 271-1 to271-4 are displayed on the special effect tray 261.

When the tag 271-1 is selected, a text window is displayed as isillustrated in FIG. 23. An image 361 to be edited is displayed in thiswindow. A font button 362 is displayed, which is clicked to select afont for the text to which an effect shall be imparted. The text theuser has input by operating the keyboard 4 is displayed in a text inputwindow 363. One of the selection button icons 364 is clicked to selectan effect applied to the text (i.e., a train of characters). A scrollbar 365 is displayed, which is used to scroll the list of selectionbutton icons 364.

Of the selection button icons 364, a desired one is dragged and droppedat the effect button 244. The text effect (or text animation) designatedby the button icon 364 thus dragged and dropped is thereby applied tothe text displayed in the text input window 363. The user may click theplayback button 231 after he or she has dragged and dropped the buttonicon 346 at the effect button 244. Then, the image with the text effectselected is immediately displayed in the playback screen 221. Thus, theuser can recognize the text effect in real time.

In the case of the screen image illustrated in FIG. 23, text animationcomposed of images combined slantwise is displayed in the playbackscreen 221.

FIG. 24 shows an image that is displayed in the playback screen 221 whenthe tag 271-3 is selected. As shown in FIG. 24, an effect window isdisplayed. In the effect window, the image 381 to edit is displayed, andbutton icons 362 are displayed below the image 381. A scroll bar 363 isdisplayed, too. The scroll bar 363 is used to scroll the list of buttonicons 362.

Of the button icons 362, a desired one is dragged and dropped at theeffect button 244 to select a specific animation effect. The user mayclick the playback button 231 after he or she has dragged and droppedthe button icon 362 at the effect button 244. Then, the image with theanimation effect selected is displayed in real time on the playbackscreen 221. In the case of the screen image shown in FIG. 24, theanimation entitled “tremulous excitement” is displayed.

FIG. 25 shows an image that is displayed in the playback screen 221 whenthe tag the tag 271-4 is selected. As shown in FIG. 25, a transitionwindow is displayed. In the transition window, button icons 391 aredisplayed. The user can select one of these button icons 391. When oneof the button icons 391 is selected, a graphic image that corresponds tothe transition selected is displayed in the display section 393. Ascroll bar 392 is displayed, too. The scroll bar 392 is used to scrollthe list of button icons 391.

The user selects one of the button icons 391 and drags and drops it atthe transition-displaying section 301B of the image track 301 shown inFIG. 26. Thus, transition can be added to the image (i.e., originalclip) displayed in the image-displaying section 301A that precedes thetransition-displaying section 301B.

If wipe transition is selected, the image shown in the left of thescreen gradually moves to the left, overlapping the image displayed inthe right of the screen as is illustrated in FIG. 27. Thus, a transitionof an image is accomplished.

If the tag 271-1 is selected, a shaker window is displayed to performautomatic edition, as is shown in the magnified view of FIG. 28.Selection buttons 281-1 to 281-5 are displayed in the shaker window. Theselection buttons 281-1 to 281-5 are assigned to five prescribedscenarios (stories), respectively. Pieces of music are assigned to thescenarios, respectively. The music assigned to the leftmost selectionbutton 281-1 has the slowest tempo. The music assigned to the rightmostselection button 281-5 has the fastest tempo. Pieces of music, which areof intermediate tempos, are assigned to the selection buttons 281-2 to28-4 displayed between the button 281-1 and the button 281-5.

More specifically, ambient music is assigned to the selection button281-1, piano music to the button 281-2, jazz to the button 281-3,hip-hop to the button 281-4, and techno-tone music to the button 281-5.

The scenario associated with the selection button 281-1 is composed of arelatively small number of scenes. By contrast, the scenario associatedwith the selection button 281-5 is composed of many scenes. Thescenarios allocated to the selection buttons 281-1 to 281-5 have thesame length. In the present embodiment, they have the length of 30seconds.

A loop button 282 and a text shake button 283 are displayed. The usermay click the loop button 282 to playback a 30-second, automaticallyedited scenario over and over again. The user may click the text shakebutton 283 to shake the text (characters). When the user clicks the textshake button 283, a window 284 is displayed. The user may then operatethe keyboard (not shown) to input a text (a train of characters) in thewindow 284. The text thus input can be edited. In the instance shown inFIG. 28, three trains of characters, “HANG ON,” “JUNK 0,” and “BE HAPPY!!” are input and displayed.

As shown in FIG. 28, a shake button 285 is displayed. The user may clickthe shake button 285 to start a shake process (i.e., automatic edition).The shake process will be described later in detail, with reference tothe flowcharts of FIGS. 41 to 43.

The user may click the shake button 285, causing the moving-pictureediting server 3 to perform the shake process. In this case, thepersonal computer 1 displays the screen image of FIG. 29, whichindicates that the server 3 is carrying out the shake process. When themoving-picture editing server 3 finishes the shake process, the personalcomputer 1 displays the screen image of FIG. 30. This screen imageinforms the user that the server 3 has completed the shake process.

If the user operates the keyboard (not shown) while the computer 1 isdisplaying the screen image that informs him of the completion of theshake process, the personal computer 1 displays the screen image of FIG.31. This screen image informs the user that the image subjected to theshake process can be played back or stored.

The screen image of FIG. 31 includes three buttons 401, 402 and 403. Theuser may click the button 401 to playback the image subjected to theshake process. He or she may click the button 402 to store the imageinto the user video-data management database 4. He or she may click thebutton 403 to switch the screen image to the edition screen of FIG. 14so that the shake process may be performed again.

How the personal computer 1 and the moving-picture editing server 3cooperate to edit images will be explained below.

FIG. 32 is a flowchart explaining how the computer 1 and the server 3work to edit an image. In Step S11, the moving-picture editing server 3performs a log-in process in accordance with the moving-picture editingprogram 12, on the basis of the user ID and password transmitted fromthe personal computer 1 via the Internet 2. If it is determined in StepS11 that neither the user ID nor the password is authenticated, StepsS12 et seq. will be skipped, and the operation is terminated.

If it is determined in Step S11 that the user ID and passwordtransmitted from the personal computer 1 are authenticated, theoperation advances to Step S12. In Step S12, the browser program 11receives the thumbnails of the original data owned by the user from themoving-picture editing server 3. The browser program 11 displays thethumbnails.

In Step S13, when the button 112 is clicked, the browser program 11 inthe personal computer 1 causes the moving-picture editing server 3 toup-load the original data.

In Step S14, when the button 113 is clicked, the browser program 11 inthe personal computer 1 causes the moving-picture editing server 3 toimpart attribute to the original data.

In Step S15, when the button 162 is clicked, the browser program 11 inthe personal computer 1 causes the moving-picture editing server 3 toload the original data which is recorded in the user video-datamanagement database 4 and which is owned by the user.

In Step S16, when the button 172 is clicked, the browser program 11 inthe personal computer 1 causes the moving-picture editing server 3 toload the shared original data which is recorded in the user video-datamanagement database 4.

In Step S17, when the button 285 is clicked, the browser program 11 inthe personal computer 1 causes the moving-picture editing server 3 toperform automatic edition on the original data loaded in Step S15 orStep S16.

In Step S18, when the button 401 is clicked, the browser program 11 inthe personal computer 1 causes the moving-picture editing server 3 totransmit the moving picture generated by the automatic edition carriedout in Step S17, to the personal computer 1. The personal computer 1displays the moving picture, which the user can confirms.

In Step S19, when the button 402 is clicked, the personal computer 1causes the moving-picture editing server 3 to record the moving picturestored in the temporary edition space 6, into the user video-datamanagement database 4. The edition of images thus ends.

The moving-picture editing server 3 can thus perform automatically editthe original data owned by the user of the personal computer 1 and theoriginal data shared by the user and other users, in response to thedemand made by the personal computer. The server 3 can thereforegenerate moving pictures into the user video-data management database 4,in association with the user IDs of the users.

The log-in process that is performed in Step S11 will be described indetail, with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 32. In Step S1101, thebrowser program 11 determines whether the button 103 (FIG. 6) has beenclicked. If the button 103 is found not clicked, Step S1101 is repeateduntil the button 103 is clicked.

If the button 103 is found clicked, in Step S1101, the process proceedsto Step S1102. In Step S1102, the browser program 11 reads the user IDinput in the field 101. Next, in Step S1103, the browser program 11reads the password input in the field 102.

In Step S1104, the browser program 11 transmits the user ID and thepassword, which have been read in Steps S1102 and S1103, to themoving-picture editing server 3 through the Internet 2.

In Step S2101, the moving-picture editing program 12 receives the userID and the password from the personal computer 1. In Step S2102, theprogram 12 determines from the user ID and the associated password,which are recorded in the user data management database 7, whether theuser ID and the password, both received, are authenticated. If the userID and the password are found to be authenticated, the process goes toStep S2103. In Step S2103, the user data management database 7 is loggedin a user area (e.g., a predetermined folder) provided in the uservideo-data management database 4, on the basis of the directory datarecorded in association with the user ID. The log-in process is therebycompleted.

The user ID and the password, both received, may not be found to beauthenticated in Step S2102. If so, Step S2103 is skipped and themoving-picture editing program 12 does not allow accesses to the uservideo-data management database 4. In this case, the process that will beexplained below will not be carried out.

After the personal computer 1 has transmitted the user ID and thepassword, both authenticated, the moving-picture editing server 3 canaccess to the predetermined user area provided in the video-datamanagement database 4. If the personal computer 1 has transmitted a userID and a password, which are not authenticated, the moving-pictureediting server 3 will not perform any further processes, prohibiting thepersonal computer 1 from accessing the user video-data managementdatabase 4.

The process of displaying the thumbnails of the original data owned bythe user, which is performed in Step S12 (FIG. 32), will be described indetail with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 34. In Step S2201, themoving-picture editing program 12 reads the file name associated withthe user ID from the user area in which the user video-data managementdatabase 4 has been logged. The program 12 then reads the original datafrom the file that has the file.

In Step S2202, the program 12 generates thumbnails from the data storedin the file that has been read in Step S2201. In Step S2203, themoving-picture editing program 12 transmits the thumbnails generated inStep S2202 to the personal computer 1 through the Internet 2.

In Step S1201, the browser program 11 receives the thumbnailstransmitted from the moving-picture editing server 3. In Step S1202, thebrowser program 11 displays the thumbnails received in Step S1201. Theprocess of displaying the thumbnails is thereby completed.

Thus, the personal computer 1 can display the thumbnails of, forexample, the moving picture data recorded in the user video-datamanagement database 4.

Next, the process of up-loading the moving-picture data or the like,which is conducted in Step S13 (FIG. 32), will be described withreference to the flowchart of FIG. 35. In Step S1301, the browserprogram 11 displays the dialog box shown in FIG. 8. In Step S1302, thebrowser program 11 reads the name of the file which contains themoving-picture data and which is input in the field 131.

In Step S1303, the browser program 11 determines whether the button 132has been clicked to instruct the transmission of the data. If the button132 is found not clicked, the process returns to Step S1302 and thebrowser program 11 reads the name of the file again.

If the button 132 is found clicked, in Step S1303, the process proceedsto Step S1304. In Step S1304, the browser program 11 opens the filehaving the name read in Step S1302. The data contained in this file istransmitted to the moving-picture editing server 3 through the Internet2.

In Step S2301, the moving-picture editing program 12 receives the datatransmitted from the browser program 11. In Step S2302, themoving-picture editing program 12 assigns a data ID to the data receivedand records the data, as original data, in the user area allocated tothe user of the browser program 11. (The user area is designated by thedirectory data recorded in the user data management database 7 andassociation with the user ID.)

In Step S2303, the moving-picture editing program 12 records the data IDand the attribute (FIG. 4) related to the data ID in the user video-datamanagement database 4. The data recorded in the user video-datamanagement database 4 is thereby updated. Here ends the process ofup-loading the moving-picture data or the like.

Thus, the moving-picture editing server 3 can record the data receivedfrom the personal computer 1, such as the moving-picture data, in theuser video-data management database 4. Further, the server 3 can recordthe data ID and the attribute (of the original data).

The process of imparting attribute to the original data, which isperformed in Step 14 (FIG. 32), will be described in detail withreference to the flowchart of FIG. 36. In Step S1401, the browserprogram 11 selects one of the thumbnail-displaying fields 121-1 to 121-9(FIG. 7). The original data the attribute of which is to be edited isthereby selected.

In Step S1402, the browser program 11 determines whether the button 113has been clicked to edit the attribute of the original data. If thebutton 113 is found not clicked, the process returns to Step S1401. InStep S1401, the browser program 11 tries to select the original dataagain.

If the button 113 is found clicked, in Step S1402, the process advancesto Step S1403. In Step S1403, the browser program 11 displays the dialogbox shown in FIG. 9. In Step S1404, the browser program 11 reads theattribute of the original data, which is set in the field 141, 142 or143.

In Step S1405, the browser program 11 determines whether the button 148has been clicked to start the transmission of the attribute. If thebutton 148 is found not clicked, the process returns to Step S1404. InStep S1404, the browser program 11 reads the attribute of the originaldata again.

If the button 148 is found clicked, in Step S1405, the process proceedsto Step S1406. In Step S1406, the browser program 11 transmits theattribute of the original data, which has been read in Step S1404, tothe moving-picture editing server 3 via the Internet 2, along with thedata ID. The data ID is transmitted, too, together with the attribute.

In Step S2401, the moving-picture editing program 12 causes themoving-picture editing server 3 to receives the data ID and theattribute of the original data, both transmitted from the personalcomputer 1. In Step S2402, the moving-picture editing program 12registers the attribute of the original data that is associated with thedata ID, in the user video-data management database 4.

In Step S2403, the program 12 determines, from the attribute of theoriginal data, whether the original data having the attributetransmitted is shared data or not. If the attribute indicates that theoriginal data is a shared one, the process proceeds to Step S2404. InStep S2404, the data ID, user ID and charge flag, all pertaining to theoriginal data, are registered in the shared video-data managementdatabase 5. Here ends the process of imparting attribute to the originaldata. The original data, which is shared data as so described by theattribute thus registered, can be read to the personal computer 1 of theother user and can be used therein.

If the original data having the attribute transmitted is found not ashared one, in Step S2403, Step S2404 is skipped. This is because thedata ID, user ID and charge flag, all pertaining to the original data,need not be registered in the shared video-data management database 5.In this case, too, the process of imparting attribute to the originaldata is terminated.

As described above, the moving-picture editing server 3 can register theattribute of the original data transmitted from the personal computer 1in the user video-data management database 4. Also can it register thedata ID, user ID and charge flag, all concerning the original data, inthe shared video-data management database 5.

The process of loading the original data owned by the user, which iscarried out in Step S15 (FIG. 32), will be explained with reference tothe flowchart of FIG. 37. In Step S1501, the browser program 11transmits the user ID and a demand to the moving-picture editing server3 through the Internet 2, thus demanding that the server 3 should loadthe original data.

In Step S2501, the moving-picture editing program 12 causes the server 3to receive the demand transmitted from the personal computer 1. In StepS2502, the program 12 determines whether the user ID received isrecorded in the user data management database 7. If the user ID is notregistered in the database 7, the moving-picture editing server 3terminates the process. In this case, no further steps of the processwill be carried out.

If the user ID is registered in the user data management database 7, theprocess goes to Step S2503. In Step S2503, the moving-picture editingprogram 12 reads the directory data associated with the user ID, fromthe user data management database 7. Based on the directory data thusread, the original data owned by the user is read from the uservideo-data management database 4, along with the data ID. In Step S2504,the moving-picture editing program 12 generates thumbnails from theoriginal data read from the database 7 in Step S2503.

In Step S2505, the moving-picture editing program 12 transmits thethumbnails generated in association with the data ID, to the personalcomputer 1 through the Internet 2.

In Step S1502, the browser program 11 makes the personal computer 1receives the data ID and thumbnails transmitted from the server 3. InStep S1503, the thumbnails are displayed in the screen image shown inFIG. 11.

In Step S1504, the browser program 11 reads the original data associatedwith one of the thumbnails displayed in the thumbnail-displaying fields161-1 to 161-9, which the user has selected. In Step S1505, the browserprogram 11 determines whether the button 162 has been clicked to loadthe original data into a working area provided in the temporary editionspace 6. If the button 162 is found not clicked, the process returns toStep S1504. In Step S1504, the original data selected is read again.

If the button 162 is found clicked, in Step S1505, the process goes toStep S1506. In Step S1506, the browser program 11 transmits the data IDof the original data selected, to the moving-picture editing server 3via the Internet 2.

In Step S2506, the server 3 receives the data ID transmitted from thepersonal computer 1. In Step S2507, the moving-picture editing program12 secures a working area in the temporary edition space 6. The workingarea secured in Step S2507 is a memory space large enough to store theoriginal data and edit the same.

In Step S2508, the original data owned by the user and identified by thedata ID received is loaded (read) from the user video-data managementdatabase 4 into the working area provided in the temporary edition space6.

In Step S2509, the moving-picture editing program 12 transmits the dataindicating that the original data owned by the user and thus selectedhas been loaded is transmitted, to the personal computer 1 through theInternet 2.

In Step S1507, the browser program 11 receives the data indicating thatthe user's original data selected has been loaded. In Step S1508, thepersonal computer 1 displays the screen image of FIG. 12, which informsthat the original data selected has been loaded. Here ends the processof loading the original data owned by the user.

Thus, the moving-picture editing server 3 loads the original data theuser of the personal computer 1 has selected, into working area providedin the temporary edition space 6. When the data selected is loaded intothe working area provided in the temporary edition space 6, the browserprogram 11 displays the fact that the original data has been thusloaded.

The process of loading all original data of the user, which is performedin Step S15, will be described in detail with reference to the flowchartof FIG. 38. Steps S1601 to S1603 of this process are similar to StepsS1501 to S1503 of the process shown in FIG. 37, and will not beexplained.

In Step S1604, it is determine whether the button 163 has been clickedto load all original data the user owns. If the button 163 is found notclicked, the process returns to Step S1604, which is repeated.

If the button 163 is found clicked, in Step S1604, the process proceedsto Step S1605. In Step S1605, the browser program 11 transmits alloriginal data to the moving-picture editing server 3 via the Internet 2.

In Step S2606, the moving-picture editing program 12 receives the demandfor all original data, which has been transmitted from the personalcomputer 1. In Step S2607, the moving-picture editing program 12 securesa working area in the temporary edition space 6. In Step S2608, themoving-picture editing program 12 reads all original data owned by theuser, from the user video-data management database 4. The data thus readis loaded into the working area provided in the temporary edition space6.

In Step S2609, the moving-picture editing program 12 transmits the datashowing that the all original data of the user has been loaded, to thepersonal computer through the Internet 2.

In Step S1606, the browser program 11 makes the computer 1 receives thedata showing that the all original data of the user has been loaded. InStep S1607, the program 11 displays the screen image of FIG. 12,informing the user that his or her original data has been loaded in itsentirety. Here ends the process of loading all original data of theuser.

Thus, the moving-picture editing server 3 loads all original data of theuser into the working area provided in the temporary edition space 6, inresponse to the demand made by the personal computer 1. When alloriginal data is loaded into the working area of the space 6, thepersonal computer 1 displays this fact.

The process of loading the shared data, which is effected in Step S16(FIG. 32), will be explained in detail with reference to the flowchartof FIG. 39. In Step S1701, the browser program 11 transmits the user IDand a demand for the shared data to the moving-picture editing server 3through the Internet 2.

In Step S2701, the moving-picture editing program 12 receives the userID and the demand for the shared data, both transmitted from thecomputer 1 via the Internet 2. In Step S2702, the moving-picture editingprogram 12 checks the user ID, determining whether the user ID isrecorded in the original data read from the database 7. If the user IDis found not recorded in the database 7, the moving-picture editingprogram 12 terminates the process. That is, no further steps of theprocess will be carried out.

If the user ID is found recorded in the database 7, in Step S2702, theprocess proceeds to Step S2703. In Step S2703, the moving-pictureediting program 12 read the data ID of the shared data from the sharedvideo-data management database 5. The original data identified by thedata ID thus read is read from the user video-data management database4. Namely, in the process of reading the shared original data, themoving-picture editing program 12 serves to read the original dataidentified by the data from the user area which is provided in thedatabase 4 and which is assigned to another user.

In Step S2704, the moving-picture editing program 12 generates thethumbnails are generated in association with the original data read inStep S2703.

In Step S2705, the moving-picture editing program 12 transmits thethumbnails generated in association with the data ID, to the personalcomputer 1 via the Internet 2.

In Step S1702, the browser program 11 receives the data ID andthumbnails of the shared original data, which have been transmitted fromthe moving-picture editing server 3. In Step S1703, the browser program11 makes the computer 1 display the thumbnails of the shared originaldata, as is illustrated in FIG. 13.

In Step S1704, the user selects one of the thumbnails displayed in thethumbnail-displaying fields 171-1 to 171-9, and the original dataassociated with the thumbnail the user has selected is read. In StepS1705, the browser program 11 determines whether the button 172 has beenclicked to load the original data, thus read, into the working areaprovided in the temporary edition space 6. If the button 172 is foundnot clicked, the process returns to Step S1704, which is repeated.

If the button 172 is found clicked, in Step S1705, the process proceedsto Step S1706. In Step S1706, the browser program 11 transmits the dataID of the original data selected, to the moving-picture editing server 3through the Internet 2.

In Step S2706, the moving-picture editing program 12 receives the dataID transmitted from the personal computer 1. In Step S2707, themoving-picture editing program 12 reads the charge flag corresponding tothe data ID, from the shared video-data management database 5. Theprogram 12 determines whether the user should pay for the data to beloaded. If it is determined that the user should pay, the process goesto Step S2708. In Step S2708, the fee associated with the data ID isread from the user video-data management database 4. The service chargerecorded in the user data management database 7 is updated, charging thefee on the user.

If it is determined that the user need not pay, in Step S2707, StepS2708 is skipped, and the process goes to Step S2709.

In Step S2709, the moving-picture editing program 12 secures a workingarea in the temporary edition space 6. In Step S2710, the moving-pictureediting program 12 reads the shared original data from the uservideo-data management database 4. The data thus read is loaded into theworking area provided in the temporary edition space 6.

In Step S2711, the moving-picture editing program 12 transmits the datashowing that the shared original data has been loaded, to the personalcomputer 1 through the Internet 2.

In Step S1707, the browser program 11 makes the computer 1 receive thedata showing that the shared original data has been loaded. In StepS1708, the browser program 11 displays the data, informing the user thatthe shared original data has been loaded. Here ends the process ofloading the shared data.

Thus, the moving-picture editing server 3 loads the shared original datathe user of the computer 1 has selected, into the working area that isprovided in the temporary edition space 6. If the user should pay forthe shared data, the server 3 operates to charge the fee on the user.When the shared original data selected is loaded into the working areaof the temporary edition space 6, the personal computer 1 displays thedata showing that the data has been so loaded.

The process of automatically editing the original data, which is carriedout in Step S17 (FIG. 32), will be described in detail with reference tothe flowchart of FIG. 40. In Step S1801, the browser program 11 readsthe text input in the window 284. In Step S1802, the browser program 11reads the data showing the automatic edition items. The automaticedition items include the selection of any one of the selection buttons281-1 to 281-5, the loop button 282 and the selection of the text shakebutton 283.

In Step S1803, the browser program 11 determines whether the shakebutton 285 has been clicked. If the shake button 285 is found notclicked, the process returns to Step S1801. In Step S1801, the text isread again and the automatic edition items are read again.

If the shake button 285 is found clicked, in Step S1803, the processadvances to Step S1804. In Step S1804, the browser program 11 transmitsthe text read in Step S1801 and the automatic edition items read in StepS1802, to the moving-picture editing server 3 through the Internet 2.

In Step S2801, the moving-picture editing program 12 causes the server 3to receive the text and automatic edition items transmitted from thepersonal computer 1. In Step S2802, the moving-picture editing program12 transmits the data representing an automatic-edition screen image, tothe personal computer 1 via the Internet 2.

In Step S1805, the browser program 11 receives the data representing theautomatic-edition screen image, which has been transmitted from themoving-picture editing server 3. In Step S1806, the browser program 11makes the computer 1 display such an automatic-edition screen image asis illustrated in FIG. 29.

In Step S2803, the moving-picture editing program 12 is executed toperform a shaker process. The shaker process will be explained later indetail, with reference to the flowchart of FIGS. 41 to 43.

In Step S2804, moving-picture editing program 12 stores themoving-picture data generated in the shaker process, as a file, into oneof the working areas provided in the temporary edition space 6. In StepS2805, the moving-picture editing program 12 transmits the data showingthat the automatic edition has been completed, to the personal computer1 via the Internet 2.

In Step S1805, the browser program 11 displays the data showing thecompletion of automatic edition, which has been transmitted from themoving-picture editing server 3. In Step S1806, the browser program 11makes the computer 1 display such a screen image as shown in FIG. 30,which informs of the completion of automatic edition.

Thus, the personal computer 1 can cause the moving-picture editingserver 3 to edit the original data.

The shaker process (i.e., automatic edition), which is performed in StepS2803, will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart ofFIGS. 41 to 43. The steps that will be described below are carried outin accordance with the moving-picture editing program 12, unlessotherwise explained. At first, in Step S51, the original data loadedinto a working area of the temporary edition space 6 is read as anoriginal clip. That is, as indicated above, the moving-picture editingprogram 12 has loaded the original data and the like (i.e., originalclip) designated by the user into the working area of the space 6 fromthe user video-data management database 4.

The original data read at this time is not limited to the data recordedin the user video-data management database 4. Rather, the original datamay be the data read into the web server (not shown). It may be the datathe disc that drive 42 has read from the magnetic disc 61, optical disc62 or magneto-optical disc 63. Further, it may be the data read fromsemiconductor memory 64.

The shaker process goes to Step S52, in which the text to be shaken, ifalready received, is read. More specifically, the user clicks the tag271-1, causing the personal computer 1 to display the shaker window(FIG. 28). To initiate the text shaking, the user clicks the text shakebutton 283, whereby the window 284 is displayed as is illustrated inFIG. 28. The user then operates the keyboard or the like to input thetext to be subjected to the shaker process. The personal computer 1reads the text and displays the same in the window 284.

The text input has been received by the moving-picture editing server 3in Step S2801 (FIG. 20) before the shake process.

The user clicks one of the five selection buttons 281-1 to 281-5. Thesebuttons 281-1 to 281-5 have been assigned to prescribed scenarios,respectively. (The scenarios are recorded in the moving-picture editingserver 3.) Therefore, the scenario to which the button 281 clicked isassigned is selected. The data corresponding to the selection button 281clicked is received in Step S2801 in accordance with the moving-pictureediting program 12.

In Step S53, the moving-picture editing program 12 determines which oneof the selection buttons 281-1 to 281-5 has been clicked.

The scenario shown in FIG. 44A is allocated to the selection button281-1. This scenario consists of four scenes 1 to 4. The scenes 1 to 4have lengths T1 to T4, respectively. Animation effect is added to thescene 1, while monochromic color adjustment has been applied to thescene 2. Transition is inserted between the scene 1 and the scene 2.Further, music M1 accompanies this scenario.

The moving-picture editing program 12 selects four of the original clipson the screen image displayed in the original tray 201, as will bedescribed later in detail. The four original clips thus selected areassigned to the scenes 1 to 4, respectively. That is, the scenario isautomatically edited in accordance with the moving-picture editingprogram 12.

FIG. 44B illustrates the scenario corresponding to the selection button281-2. This scenario is composed of five scenes 1 to 5, which havelengths T11 to T15, respectively. Color sepia is applied to the scene 2.Random effect is added to scene 3. Transition is inserted between thescene 4 and the scene 5. Music M2 accompanies this scenario.

Three other scenarios (not shown) are allocated to the remainingselection buttons 281-3 to 281-5, respectively.

Before the shake process, the moving-picture editing server 3 receivesin Step S2801 (FIG. 20) the data showing which one of the selectionbuttons 281-1 to 281-5 has been clicked.

In Step S54, the loop preset is read in accordance with moving-pictureediting program 12. That is, the user clicks the loop button 282 toplayback the scenario that has been edited. The data associated with theloop button 282 has been received in Step S2801 (FIG. 20) in accordancewith the moving-picture editing program 12. Then, in Step S54, themoving-picture editing program 12 stores the data associated with theloop button 282.

The scenario allocated to the selection button 281-1, for example, hasis configured as is illustrated in FIG. 44A. More precisely, the sceneis configured as shown in FIG. 45A if the loop button 282 is notselected (to play back the scene repeatedly). As FIG. 45A shows, afade-in part SC1′ is provided at the beginning of the first scene 1(SC1) and a fade-out part SC4′ is provided at the end of the last scene4 (SC4). Further, a no-sound part M1′ is added to the end of the musicM1.

The data edited in accordance with the scenario configured as is shownin FIG. 45A will be played back repeatedly, as is illustrated in FIG.45B. To be more specific, the playback starts at the fade-in part SC1′and the data is completely played back for the first time at thefade-out part SC4′. The data is then played back for the second time,beginning at the fade-in part SC1′ and ending at the fade-out part SC4′.Thus, the scene 1, scene 2, scene 3 and scene 4 are sequentially playedback again, and the fade-out part SC4′ is finally played back. The musicM1 is repeatedly played back, too. Its no-sound part M1′ is played backat the junction A between the first playback of the scenario and thesecond playback thereof. Therefore, the audience can easily recognizethe scenario has been played back when no sound is generated at thejunction A.

The loop button 282 may be clicked after the selection button 281-1 isclicked. In this case, the scenario shown in FIG. 45C is selected.

This scenario consists of four scenes 1 to 4. When the scene 1 is playedback again after the scene 4, the transition from the scene 4 to thescene 1, i.e., the second playback of the scenario, is not recognized atall. The transition from scene 4 to scene 1 is perceived as nothing morethan a transition of scenes, such as the transition from scene 1 toscene 2, the transition from scene 2 to scene 3, the transition scene 3to scene 4. The audience regard the transition from scene 4 to scene 1as nothing more than a change of scenes.

Similarly, the audience do not feel that a scene ends even if the musicM1 is played back again immediately after the first playback of allmusic M1.

Thus, even if the scenes 1 to 4 are played back again after the firstplayback of these scenes as is illustrated in FIG. 45D, the audience canhardly recognize the first playback ends at the junction A and then thesecond playback starts.

Thus, the scenario allocated to any one of the selection buttons 281-1top 281-5 may be repeatedly played back or not repeatedly played back.The scenario is not repeatedly played back if the user do not click theloop button 282. The scenario is repeatedly played back if the userclicks the loop button 282.

In Step S55, the moving-picture editing program 12 determines whetherthe loop has been designated, or whether the loop button 282 has beenclicked. If the loop is found designated already, the process proceedsto Step S56. In Step S56, the moving-picture editing program 12 selectsthe scenario which is allocated to one of the selection buttons 281-1 to281-5, which has been clicked and which should be played backrepeatedly. If the loop is found not designated, in Step S55, theprocess proceeds to Step S57. In Step S57, the moving-picture editingprogram 12 selects the scenario which is allocated to one of theselection buttons 281-1 to 281-5, which has been clicked and whichshould not be played back repeatedly.

The process goes from Step S56 or S57 to Step S58. In Step S58, themoving-picture editing program 12 allocates IDs (identification numbers)to the original clips read in Step S51. In Step S59, the moving-pictureediting program 12 selects one of the original clips in accordance witha random number. In other words, the program 12 selects an ID from amongmany allocated to the original clips in Step S58, thereby choosing oneoriginal clip.

In Step S60, the moving-picture editing program 12 allocates theoriginal clip selected in Step S59, to one of the scenes composing thescenario that has been selected in Step S59. (This scene is the firstscene, in this case).

Then, in Step S61, it is determined whether the original clips have beenallocated to all scenes. If the clips have not been so allocated, theprocess returns to Step S59. Steps S59 and S60 are performed again. Theprescribed original clips are thereby allocated to the scene 1, scene 2,scene 3 and scene 4, all shown in FIG. 44A.

If the clips are found allocated, in Step S61, the process proceeds toStep S62. In Step S62 the moving-picture editing program 12 selects onescene. Assume that the first scene is selected. In Step S63,moving-picture editing program 12 determines whether the scene selectedin Step S62 is shorter than the original clip. If the scene is shorterthan the original clip, the process advances to Step S64. In Step S64,the moving-picture editing program 12 identify that part of the originalclip, which should be allocated to the scene, from the random number.The original clip may be five seconds long and the scene may be onesecond long. If so, the program 12 generates a random number,determining which image that last one second should be allocated to thatscene.

In Step S63 the scene may be found not shorter than the original clip.In this case, the process goes to Step S65. In Step 65, themoving-picture editing program 12 lengthens the original clip to thelength of the scene. More precisely, the program 12 lengthens theoriginal clip five times if the clip is one second long, while the sceneis five seconds long. (Namely, the clip is played back at a speed fivetimes as slow.) Slow-motion playback is thereby achieved, rendering theoriginal clip as long as the scene.

From Step S64 or the Step S65 the process proceeds to Step S66. In StepS66, the moving-picture editing program 12 determines whether an effectis added to the scene of the scenario. If an effect is added to thescene, as the animation effect added to the scene 1 shown in FIG. 44A,the process proceeds to Step S67. In Step S67, the moving-pictureediting program 12 determines whether the effect is a predetermined oneor not. A predetermined effect may be assigned to the scene, as theanimation effect to the scene 1 shown in FIG. 44A. Alternatively, nopredetermined effect may be assigned to the scene, as a random effect tothe scene 3 depicted in FIG. 44B. The random effect, if added to anyscene, means that some effect should be added to the scene, but whicheffect should be applied thereto has yet to be determined. If this isthe case, process proceeds to Step S68. Hence, a random number isgenerated to designate one of, for example, various 24 effects that havebeen prepared.

In Step S67 the effect may be found already determined. In Step S68 oneeffect may be designated. In either case, the process proceeds to StepS69. In Step S69, the moving-picture editing program 12 assigns theeffect determined or designated, to the original clip associated withthe scene selected.

In Step S66 no effect may be found added to the scene of the scenario.If this is the case, Steps S67 to S69 are unnecessary and are notcarried out.

Next, in Step S70, the moving-picture editing program 12 determineswhether a transition has been designated or not. In the case where atransition has been designated, the process goes to Step S71. In StepS71, the moving-picture editing program 12 inserts a transition betweenthe original clip and the next original clip. Wipe effect is therebyapplied, and the image of the scene is switched to the next scene, in aspecific way as is illustrated in FIG. 27.

If no transition is found not designated, in Step S70, Step S71 isunnecessary and will be skipped.

In Step S72, the moving-picture editing program 12 determines whether atext has been acquired. As pointed out above, the text to be shaken isread in Step S52. If so, the process advances to Step S73, in which theprogram 12 determines, at random, whether the text should be shaken inthe scene to be processed. Then, in Step S74, the program 12 determineswhether the text should be shaken. If it is determined that the textshould be shaken, the process advances to Step S75. In Step S75, one ofthe texts acquired is selected at random. For example, one of the threetexts shown in FIG. 28, which have been read, is selected as one thatcorresponds to the scene.

Next, in Step S76, the moving-picture editing program 12 determines theposition at which the text should be inserted. The position is selectedfrom five candidates, which are the center, upper-right, upper-left,lower-left and lower-right parts of the screen.

If it is determined in Step S74 that the text need not be shaken, StepS75 and Step S76 are skipped. If it is determined in Step S72 that notext has been acquired, Steps S73 to S76 are skipped.

The process proceeds to Step S77, in which it is determined whether allscenes have been processed. If all scenes have not been processed, theprocess returns to Step S62, the above-mentioned sequence of steps isperformed on the next scene.

If it is determined in Step S77 that all scenes have been processed, theshaker process is terminated.

FIG. 46 is a graphic representation of the shaker process.

As FIG. 46 shows, original clips CL1 to CL5 are designated as originalclips. The user has clicked one of the selection buttons 281, thusselecting one scenario. This scenario consists of n scenes SC1 to SCn.Of the scenes, the scene SC3 has been subjected to color adjustment,wherein sepia is chosen. A random effect is applied to the scene SCn-1.Color adjustment has been effected on the scene SCn, thereby selectingsepia. A transition is inserted between the scene SC2 and the scene SC3.A transition is inserted between the scene SC3 and the scene SC4.Further, a transition is inserted between the scene SCn-1 and the sceneSCn. The scene SC1 is two second long, and the scene SC2 is 2.2 secondslong, the scene SC3 is 4.0 seconds long. The scene SCn-3 is one secondlong, the scene SCn-1 is five seconds long, and the scene SCn is threeseconds long. Music is predetermined for these scenes. The coloradjustment, the insertion of transitions, the lengths of scenes, and themusic for the scenes are prescribed in the moving-picture editingprogram 12.

The moving-picture editing program 12 selects, at random, one of thefive original clips CL1 to CL5, and allocates the original clip to oneof the scenes SC1 to SCn. Assume the program 12 allocates the originalclip CL5 to the scene SCn-3. Then, the scene SCn-3 is one second long,while the original clip CL5 is one second or more longer. In this case,the one-second part of the original clip CL5 lasting from time t1 totime t4, which extends from time t2 to time t3, is allocated to thescene SCn-3.

Thus, the user can obtain image data edited in a prescribed manner canbe automatically generated, merely by clicking the original clip thatcorresponds to the image data. Since the original clips are allocated toscenes at random, different results of edition will be obtained even ifthe user clicks the same original clip.

The process of enabling the user to confirm the moving picture generatedby means of automatic edition, which is performed in Step S18 (FIG. 32),will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 47. In StepS1901, the browser program 11 transmits a playback demand for themoving-picture data generated by the automatic edition, to themoving-picture editing server 3 through the Internet 2.

In Step S2901, the moving-picture editing program 12 is executed toreceive the playback demand for the moving-picture data, which thepersonal computer 1 has transmitted. In Step S2902, the program 12 readsthe moving-picture data from the file recorded in the working areaprovided in the temporary edition space 6. The moving-picture data, thusread, is transmitted to the personal computer 1 via the Internet 2.

In Step S1902, the browser program 11 makes the computer 1 receive themoving-picture data transmitted from the moving-picture editing server3. In Step S1903, the browser program 11 plays back the moving-picturedata and terminate the process.

The browser program 11 thus plays back and displays the moving picturegenerated by the automatic edition. The user of the personal computer 1therefore confirms the moving picture and can decide whether to save themoving picture.

The process of recording the moving picture generated by the automaticedition, which is performed in Step S19 (FIG. 32), will be explainedwith reference to the flowchart of FIG. 48. In Step S11001, the browserprogram 11 transmits a data-saving demand for saving the moving-picturedata generated by the automatic edition, to the moving-picture editingserver 3 through the Internet 2.

In Step S21001, the moving-picture editing program 12 receives thedata-saving demand transmitted from the personal computer 1. In StepS21002, the program 12 generates a data ID and allocates the same to thedata stored in the file recorded in the working area of the temporaryedition space 6. In Step S21003, the moving-picture editing program 12records the data ID and the data that corresponds to the data ID intothe user video-data management database 4, as is illustrated in FIG. 4.The program 12 updates the data recorded in the user video-datamanagement database 4.

The browser program 11 can thus record the moving-picture data in theuser video-data management database 4 after the data has beenautomatically edited.

As indicated above, moving-picture editing server 3 can record themoving-picture data, the still-picture data or the sound datatransmitted from the personal computer 1 via the Internet 2, as originaldata, into the user video-data management database 4. Additionally, themoving-picture editing server 3 can automatically generate a movingpicture from the original data owned by the user and recorded in theuser video-data management database 4, in response to a demandtransmitted from the personal computer 1.

Moreover, the moving-picture editing server 3 can automatically generatea moving picture from the original data shared by the users and recordedin the user video-data management database 4, in response to a demandtransmitted from the personal computer 1.

The user of the personal computer 1 can impart an attribute to themoving-picture data automatically generated and recorded in the database4, so that this moving-picture data may be used by the other users.

The above-mentioned sequence of steps can be performed by software, aswell as by hardware. To perform the sequence by using software, theprograms composing the software, which are provided in a program-storingmedium, are installed into a computer that is incorporated in adedicated hardware system or into a general-purpose computer that canperform various functions.

The program-storing medium storing the programs to be installed into acomputer and executed thereby may be a package medium such as a magneticdisc 61 (including a floppy disc), an optical disc 62 (including aCD-ROM (Compact Disc-Read Only Memory) and a DVD (Digital VersatileDisc)) or a magneto-optical disc 63 (including an MD (Mini-Disc)).Alternatively, the program-storing medium may be a ROM 32 or an HDD 41,in which the programs are stored either temporarily or permanently. Theprograms are written into the program-storing medium, if necessary,through the communication section 43 that is a router or a modem, byusing a cabled or radio communication medium such as the local areanetwork, the Internet 2 or the digital satellite broadcasting system.

In the present invention, the steps described in any program stored inthe program-storing medium may be performed not only sequentially in theorder they are described, but also in parallel or independently.

In the present invention, the word “system” used herein means anapparatus composed of a plurality of devices.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

In the present invention, a scenario consisting of a plurality ofscenes, each lasting for a given time, is acquired in response to ademand made by a data-processing apparatus. A given number of image dataitems that will be used in the scenario are acquired, too, in responseto a demand made by the data-processing apparatus. Prescribed ones ofthe image data items acquired are selected and allocated to the scenesof the scenario acquired. The image data items selected are corrected inaccordance with the prescribed image data items that have been allocatedto the scenes of the scenario the scenes of the scenario. This enablesthe user of the apparatus to edit images easily and quickly.

1. A video-editing server for generating a video program in response toinstructions transmitted from a client device through a network, saidvideo-editing server comprising: means for assigning a first memory areaand a corresponding user identifier for a user of the client device;means for receiving at least one image data item uploaded by the userfrom the client device through the network using a web browser, and forstoring the received at least one image data item in the first memoryarea, the at least one image data item including at least one of (1) oneor more video clips and (2) one or more still picture images; means forreceiving a designation indicating whether the uploaded at least oneimage data item can be shared with other users; means for superposingtext on one of the at least one image data item; means for acquiring ascenario including at least one scene, each scene lasting for apredetermined period of time, in response to a demand made by the userof the client device using a web browser; and means for allocating theuploaded at least one image data item to the at least one scene of thescenario until each scene of the scenario has been allocated acorresponding one of the at least one image data item to generate thevideo program.
 2. The video-editing server of claim 1, furthercomprising: means for receiving audio data uploaded by the user from theclient device through the network using a web browser, and for storingthe received audio data in the first memory area.
 3. The video-editingserver of claim 1, further comprising: means for causing the clientdevice to display a thumbnail image corresponding to each image itemdata uploaded by the user.
 4. The video-editing server of claim 1,further comprising: means for downloading the generated video program tothe client device of the user.
 5. The video-editing server of claim 1,further comprising: means for transmitting to the user a list of allimage data items designated as shared image data uploaded by all otherusers other than the user; and means for receiving, from the user, aselection of first image data items from the list of shared image datauploaded by all other users, wherein the means for allocating allocatesthe first image data items to the at least one scene of the scenariountil each scene of the scenario has been allocated a corresponding oneof the first image data items.
 6. The video-editing server of claim 1,further comprising: means for applying video effects on or between theallocated at least one image data item in response to instructionsreceived from the user.
 7. A video-editing method for generating a videoprogram in response to instructions transmitted from a client devicethrough a network, said video-editing method comprising: assigning afirst memory area and a corresponding user identifier for a user of theclient device; receiving at least one image data item uploaded by theuser from the client device through the network using a web browser, andstoring the received at least one image data item in the first memoryarea, the at least one image data item including at least one of (1) oneor more video clips and (2) one or more still picture images; receivinga designation indicating whether the uploaded at least one image dataitem can be shared with other users; superposing text on one of the atleast one image data item; acquiring a scenario including at least onescene, each scene lasting for a predetermined period of time, inresponse to a demand made by the user of the client device using a webbrowser; and allocating the uploaded at least one image data item to theat least one scene of the scenario until each scene of the scenario hasbeen allocated a corresponding one of the at least one image data itemto generate the video program.
 8. The video-editing method of claim 7,further comprising: receiving audio data uploaded by the user from theclient device through the network using a web browser, and for storingthe received audio data in the first memory area.
 9. The video-editingmethod of claim 7, further comprising: causing the client device todisplay a thumbnail image corresponding to each image item data uploadedby the user.
 10. The video-editing method of claim 7, furthercomprising: downloading the generated video program to the client deviceof the user.
 11. The video-editing method of claim 7, furthercomprising: transmitting to the user a list of all image data itemsdesignated as shared image data uploaded by all other users other thanthe user; and receiving, from the user, a selection of first image dataitems from the list of shared image data uploaded by all other users,wherein the allocating step includes allocating the first image dataitems to the at least one scene of the scenario until each scene of thescenario has been allocated a corresponding one of the first image dataitems.
 12. The video-editing method of claim 7, further comprising:applying video effects on or between the allocated at least one imagedata item in response to instructions from the user.
 13. A video-editingserver for generating a video program in response to instructionstransmitted from a client device through a network, said video-editingserver comprising: a processor configured to assign a first memory areaand a corresponding user identifier for a user of the client device; anda communication device configured to receive at least one image dataitem uploaded by the user from the client device through the networkusing a web browser, and to cause the received at least one image dataitem to be stored in the first memory area, the at least one image dataitem including at least one of (1) one or more video clips and (2) oneor more still picture images, wherein the communication device isfurther configured to receive a designation indicating whether theuploaded at least one image data item can be shared with other users,wherein the processor is configured to (1) superpose text on one of theat least one image data item, (2) acquire a scenario including at leastone scene, each scene lasting for a predetermined period of time, inresponse to a demand made by the user of the client device using a webbrowser, and (3) allocate the uploaded at least one image data item tothe at least one scene of the scenario until each scene of the scenariohas been allocated a corresponding one of the at least one image dataitem to generate the video program.
 14. A device for generating a videoprogram by transmitting instructions to a video-editing server through anetwork, the device comprising: means for transmitting, by a user of thedevice, a request for initiating a video-editing service to thevideo-editing server, wherein, in response, the video-editing serverassigns a first memory area and a corresponding user identifier for theuser of the device; means for selecting and uploading at least one imagedata item to the video-editing server through the network using a webbrowser, wherein the video-editing server stores the uploaded at leastone image data item in the first memory area, the at least one imagedata item including at least one of (1) one or more video clips and (2)one or more still picture images; means for uploading a designationindicating whether the uploaded at least one image data item can beshared with other users; means for instructing the video-editing serverto superpose text on one of the at least one image data item; means forselecting a scenario including at least one scene, each scene lastingfor a predetermined period of time, wherein, based on input receivedfrom the device, the video-editing server allocates the uploaded atleast one image data item to the at least one scene of the scenariountil each scene of the scenario has been allocated a corresponding oneof the at least one image data item to generate the video program. 15.The device of claim 14, further comprising: means for selecting anduploading to the video-editing server, through the network using the webbrowser, audio data, wherein the video-editing server stores theuploaded audio data in the first memory area.
 16. The device of claim14, further comprising: means for displaying a thumbnail imagecorresponding to each image item data uploaded by the user.
 17. Thedevice of claim 14, further comprising: means for downloading thegenerated video program from the video-editing server to the device.